Total War: ATTILA Guide#
Total War: ATTILA is a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics game developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA, released on February 17, 2015. It is set in 395 AD: the Roman Empire has split into eastern and western halves, the Huns sweep in from the east, barbarian tribes pour across Roman territory, and twilight falls on the Mediterranean world.
The game is the eighth mainline entry in the Total War series and the spiritual successor to Rome: Total War. On top of its predecessor’s foundations it introduces a large batch of new mechanics — a dynamic climate system, plague propagation, and nomadic migration — that greatly deepen the strategic layer.
Key Features#
| Feature |
Description |
| Nomadic migration |
Some factions hold no fixed territory and must lead their people in search of a new homeland |
| Climate deterioration |
The world’s climate worsens over time, and arable land keeps shrinking |
| Plague system |
Plagues travel with armies and along trade routes, destroying the cities in their path |
| Religious conflict |
Multiple religions coexist, and religious differences spark rebellions and wars |
| Dark Age atmosphere |
Apocalyptic dusk tones that press home the sense of a civilization collapsing |
| Tribute system |
Sasanian Persia fields a unique vassal-management and administrative system |
Guide Directory#
| Chapter |
Coverage |
| Chapter 1 — Getting Started |
Basic controls, reading the interface, and early-game strategy |
| Chapter 2 — Factions |
Each major faction’s identity, strengths, and weaknesses |
| Chapter 3 — Battle System |
Real-time battle mechanics, unit synergy, and the morale system |
| Chapter 4 — Strategy and Tactics |
Grand strategic layout and battlefield tactics |
| Chapter 5 — Units |
Full unit breakdowns, upgrade paths, and best configurations |
| Chapter 6 — Economy |
Trade routes, city management, and resource allocation |
| Chapter 7 — Campaign Walkthroughs |
Major factions’ campaign flow and how to handle key events |
| Chapter 8 — Diplomacy |
Alliances, vassals, trade agreements, and marriage diplomacy |
| Chapter 9 — Achievements |
Unlock conditions and routes for every achievement |
| Chapter 10 — Practical Tips |
Advanced techniques, hidden mechanics, and common questions |
Historical Background#
In 395 AD, Theodosius I died and the Roman Empire formally split into the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) and the Western Roman Empire. Rome still held enormous territory, but internally it was deeply rotten — economic decline, a neglected military, barbarian penetration, and plagues everywhere.
At the same time the Huns, out of the Central Asian steppe and led by Attila, drove westward. Their arrival set off the largest population movement in European history — the Migration Period. Germanic tribes such as the Goths, Vandals, Suebi, and Burgundians were pushed, or chose, to pour into Roman territory, and the Western Roman Empire finally fell in 476.
The game is set against exactly this upheaval: players can pick factions including the Roman Empire, the Huns, Sasanian Persia, and the Vandals, then survive, expand, or rebuild civilization amid the chaos.
Timeline of Key Historical Events#
| Year |
Event |
Effect in the game |
| 395 AD |
The Roman Empire splits |
The game’s starting point; Eastern and Western Rome are independent factions |
| 410 AD |
The Visigoths sack Rome |
Triggers barbarian-invasion events; Roman public order drops |
| 439 AD |
The Vandals conquer North Africa |
Rome loses a key grain-producing region; the economy takes a hit |
| 451 AD |
The Battle of Chalons |
The climax of the Hunnic invasion of Gaul |
| 455 AD |
The Vandals sack Rome |
The Western Roman Empire declines further |
| 476 AD |
The Western Roman Empire falls |
A possible event trigger inside the game |
Core Mechanics in Depth#
Climate Deterioration#
Climate deterioration is one of ATTILA’s most distinctive mechanics. As time passes, the global climate steadily worsens, with these consequences:
| Effect |
Description |
| Failing harvests |
Arable land keeps shrinking and food production takes a heavy blow |
| Falling population |
Harsh climate slows population growth or even turns it negative |
| Migration pressure |
A worsening climate forces the northern tribes south, sharpening border conflicts |
| Urban decline |
Poor harvests leave cities under-supplied and economies in retreat |
The Plague System#
Plague is an exceptionally dangerous threat in ATTILA, capable of destroying entire armies and depopulating whole provinces.
| Transmission route |
Effect |
| Army movement |
Provinces an infected army passes through may break out in plague |
| Trade routes |
Plague spreads along trade routes to the cities of your trading partners |
| Refugee flows |
Large-scale population movement carries the plague along with it |
System Requirements#
| Spec |
Minimum |
Recommended |
| OS |
Windows Vista SP2 (64-bit) |
Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) |
| CPU |
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz |
Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz |
| Memory |
2 GB |
4 GB |
| GPU |
AMD Radeon HD 2400 (512 MB VRAM, DirectX 10 compatible) |
AMD Radeon HD 5770 (1 GB VRAM, DirectX 11 compatible) |
| Disk space |
20 GB free |
25 GB free |
| DirectX |
10 |
11 |
Game Modes#
| Mode |
Description |
| Campaign mode |
The classic blend of turn-based grand management and real-time tactical battles |
| Historical battles |
Single set-piece battles built on events such as the Battle of Chalons and the sack of Rome |
| Multiplayer |
Online multiplayer battles against players from around the world |
| Quick battle |
Jump straight into a real-time fight with a custom army |
The Campaign Arc#
| Stage |
Main tasks |
| Opening choice |
Pick your faction, difficulty, and strategic direction |
| Internal management |
Run cities, population, taxation, and public order |
| Military expansion |
Raise legions; conquer territory or defend it |
| Diplomacy |
Alliances, trade, vassalage, and marriage ties |
| Final victory |
Meet your faction’s specific victory conditions |
Faction Archetypes#
The Four Faction Types#
| Archetype |
Representative factions |
Playstyle |
| The Roman Empire |
Western Rome, Eastern Rome |
Lean on the urban economy; defend in force and expand steadily |
| Nomadic tribes |
The Huns |
All-cavalry mobility with an economy carried by raiding |
| Barbarian tribes |
The Goths, the Vandals |
The transition road from nomad life to settlement |
| The Eastern empire |
Sasanian Persia |
Heavy cavalry plus the tribute system |
Factions Recommended for New Players#
| Recommendation |
Faction |
Why |
| First pick |
Eastern Roman Empire |
Strong economic base, easy to defend, forgiving of mistakes |
| Second pick |
Sasanian Persia |
The tribute system provides stable income |
| Advanced |
Western Roman Empire |
Extremely demanding; best for experienced players |
| Challenge |
The Huns |
A completely different nomadic playstyle |
Battle Types at a Glance#
| Type |
Traits |
| Field battle |
Fought in open ground, where terrain matters greatly |
| Siege |
Storming a city or fortress; requires siege equipment |
| Naval battle |
Fought at sea, with ship handling at the core |
| Pursuit |
Running down routed enemies for a fast kill |
| Raiding |
Sacking cities to seize resources |
Frequently Asked Questions#
| Question |
Answer |
| Can the game be paused |
The turn-based campaign needs no pause; battles can be paused to issue orders |
| Do I need the earlier games |
No — this entry ships with a complete tutorial |
| Is there official Chinese |
Yes — an official Chinese interface and subtitles are supported |
| Are the system requirements high |
No — mid-range and low-end computers run it smoothly |
| How long is a single campaign |
A complete campaign usually takes 50-100 hours |
| Are mods supported |
Workshop mods are supported; officially compatible mods do not affect achievements |
Ratings#
Editorial ratings carried in the Chinese guide:
| Dimension |
Score |
Notes |
| Graphics |
8/10 |
Top-tier 2015 visuals that still hold up today |
| Sound and music |
9/10 |
Epic score and convincing battlefield audio |
| Game depth |
10/10 |
Immense strategic and tactical depth |
| Replay value |
9/10 |
Many factions and difficulties; every campaign plays out differently |
| Newcomer friendliness |
6/10 |
A steep learning curve that takes time to absorb |
| Overall |
8.5/10 |
One of the series’ best, and a must-play for Dark Age fans |
Development Team#
| Role |
Team |
| Developer |
Creative Assembly |
| Publisher |
SEGA |
| Engine |
Warscape Engine |
| Release date |
February 17, 2015 |
| Post-launch support |
Multiple free updates and DLC |
About This Guide#
This guide is written in Chinese and aims to serve as a complete reference for players of every language background. It covers everything from first steps to advanced techniques, backed by detailed data tables and strategic analysis, to help you get the most out of this epic strategy game set in the Dark Ages.
Suggested Reading by Player Type#
| Player type |
Recommended chapters |
| Complete beginner |
Chapters 1, 2, 3 |
| Experienced player |
Chapters 4, 5, 6 |
| Chasing mastery |
Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10 |
Guide version: 1.0
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Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — achievements, challenge play, controls and settings, the gallery, story and worldview, useful resources, tips and tricks, version updates, and the campaign walkthrough — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Total War: ATTILA section.